Ashley’s hands clenched tightly around the steering wheel as she drove back to her apartment, her mind racing with rage and betrayal. Mason thought he could walk away from her, leave her in the dust like she was nothing. He was wrong. Dead wrong. If she couldn’t have him, no one else would. The thought simmered in her head like a dangerous promise.

Her mind drifted back to the bossy-looking woman she had seen with Mason at the bar that day—Chloe. Ashley recalled how, just before the woman had disappeared into a sleek black car, she had slipped a card into her hand, her red-painted lips curling into a knowing smile. ‘Call me if you ever need a little help,’ Chloe had said.

Ashley hadn’t thought much of it then. But now? Now she was desperate enough to take Chloe up on her offer. She yanked her phone out of her purse and dialed the number. After three rings, a breathy voice answered.

“Chloe speaking,” the woman purred, her tone thick with amusement, as though she’d been expecting the call.

“This is Ashley,” she said curtly. “Mason’s fiancée.”

There was a brief pause, followed by a low, dark chuckle. “I figured you’d call eventually. You need my help, don’t you?”

Ashley’s grip on the phone tightened. “I need my man back.”

“I bet you do,” Chloe replied, her voice smooth and taunting. “Why don’t we meet tomorrow morning? I’m sure we can come up with something… effective.”

Without waiting for Ashley’s response, Chloe hung up, leaving Ashley staring at her phone with a mix of anticipation and dread.

---

The next morning, Chloe took her time getting ready. She wanted Ashley to know from the moment they met that she was the one in control. That whatever plan they came up with would be on her terms. Chloe had her own scores to settle, and manipulating Ashley was just another step in her grander scheme.

After pulling on a sleek black dress and a pair of dark sunglasses, Chloe ordered a car. She didn’t have the luxury of living in Ava’s mansion anymore—thanks to Ava’s meddling assistant—but that didn’t mean she was done playing the game. If anything, it only fueled her need for revenge.

Arriving at the quiet café they had agreed upon, Chloe strode in confidently. Ashley was already there, looking tense and impatient. Chloe smiled to herself. ‘Good. Let her stew.’

“Glad you could make it,” Chloe said, sliding into the seat across from Ashley. “You looked like you could use a little guidance.”

Ashley shot her a glare but didn’t respond. She wasn’t here to play games—at least, not Chloe’s. “I want that lady out of Mason’s life. Permanently.”

Chloe leaned back, folding her arms across her chest as a sly smile spread across her face. “Funny. I want the same thing. Ava cost me something very dear, and I’d love nothing more than to see her suffer.”

Ashley narrowed her eyes. “Then let’s do it. Let’s take her down.”

“Oh, I have plans, darling. But they require… finesse.” Chloe leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I know someone in California. Someone who specializes in… compromising situations. We could arrange for Ava to find herself in one. Imagine the scandal—a few incriminating photos, a compromising video. Mason won’t want anything to do with her after that.”

Ashley’s breath hitched. It was underhanded, but she couldn’t deny how effective it could be. “You have someone who can do that?”

Chloe smirked. “Of course. I always have someone. Give me a few hours, and I’ll set the wheels in motion.”

Ashley hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She didn’t care how far this plan went—as long as Ava was out of the picture.

The tension in the air was intense, but beneath it lay a shared hunger—revenge. They weren’t friends, but they didn’t have to be. Their only connection was a common enemy: Ava.

“So, you said you have someone who can create a scandal for her? But is that it? Don't we need a plan B?” Ashley asked, her voice low but sharp.

Chloe’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Oh, darling, I have more than one way to ruin her. But first, let’s hit her where it hurts the most—her reputation. You see, Ava’s built her empire on being untouchable, the perfect businesswoman. People admire her because they think she’s flawless. All we need to do is plant a seed of doubt.”

Ashley frowned. “What kind of doubt?”

Chloe leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with malice. “Let’s start a rumor. Something explosive. We’ll claim Ava is secretly having an affair with a client. Make it look like she’s hiding a scandalous double life. The media loves a juicy story, especially when it involves a powerful woman falling from grace.”

Ashley’s eyes widened as the idea sank in. “You want to paint her as some kind of fraud, a homewrecker? And a whore?”

“Exactly. Once the story catches on, people will start digging into her personal life. The more noise we make, the harder it’ll be for her to control the narrative. And if her investors think she’s a liability…” Chloe trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.

Ashley nodded slowly. “Her company will take a hit. She’ll lose credibility.”

“And Mason?” Chloe asked with a sly grin. “He’ll want nothing to do with her once her name is dragged through the mud. He’ll come running back to you, ashamed he ever got involved with her.”

Ashley’s lips pressed into a thin line. She hated the idea of Mason being with Ava more than anything, and if tarnishing Ava’s image was what it took to win him back, she was all in.

“Now, how do we spread the rumor?” Chloe asked.

Ashley pulled out her phone and began typing rapidly. “I have a contact at a gossip blog—one that loves to tear down powerful women. We’ll give them a ‘tip’ about Mrs Miller's loveless marriage and her affair with clients. Once it’s out there, it’ll spread like wildfire,” after a second thought, Ashely asked, “And what if she denies it?”

“She will, of course,” Chloe said with a dismissive wave. “But by then, the damage will already be done. The internet doesn’t care about truth, only drama. Then there will be images and videos to back up. I've already dropped a message to my contact in California to drug her and get her videos leaked. Even if Ava tries to fight back, the story will live on in whispers, boardrooms, and social media threads.”

Ashley’s heart pounded with a mix of excitement and nerves. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

---

Later that night, Chloe sent a carefully worded message to her own contact at the gossip blog, detailing Ava’s supposed loveless marriage and affair with numerous clients. She made sure to include vague but believable details, enough to stir curiosity but not enough to easily disprove.

Meanwhile, Ashley began making calls to a few influential acquaintances both in Philly and New York, hinting at the scandal about to break.

By the next morning, whispers about Ava’s double life had already begun circulating. Social media was buzzing with speculation, and the gossip blog’s article was going viral. Comments ranged from disbelief to outrage, with many questioning Ava’s integrity.

“This is just the beginning,” Chloe said smugly when Ashley called to update her on the growing buzz. “Give it a few more days, and our dear Mrs Miller will be scrambling to do damage control.”

Ashley smiled, a sense of satisfaction washing over her. For the first time in weeks, she felt like she had the upper hand. “Let’s see how she handles the pressure.”